Should all the princesses die, one of
the common bees is put into the royal cradle and fed upon the dainty
food, and she often makes quite as good a queen as if she were born in
the purple.
Bees seldom sting if they are let alone. They are easily frightened by a
sudden movement and will try to defend themselves. If a bee alights by
mistake on your hand or face, it will soon fly away without hurting you
if you can keep quite still. As a rule, they are good-tempered and
harmless.
Wasps have not earned for themselves a reputation for good-nature or
thrift. They have never learned to store up honey, and every winter many
of them freeze to death in their elegant paper houses. It is considered
wise not to handle a wasp, lest his feelings, which are easily ruffled,
get the better of him. But there is room to admire his good looks, his
skill in house-building, and his sturdy pluck and courage.
[Illustration: PAPER-MAKERS.]
Wasps do much good in the garden by destroying grubs and caterpillars,
and they are quite willing to take their wages in overripe fruit at the
end of the season.
A LITTLE BLACK SLAVE.
I am going to tell you about a little slave who lived in France. Her
name was Alerta, and she was a tiny black ant.
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